Put Your Pain In A Letter - Then Burn It

How long will it take to release these emotions? That would depend on you and what emotions you’re suppressing. Some emotions are relatively easy to release...while others will take a little more time. But the important fact is to recognize that you are holding on to these emotions. If you don’t realize they’re there, or you refuse to acknowledge their presence...then they could be around for years and years and years.

After all these years I’m still releasing energy from suppressed emotions and cleaning the garbage out of my life. But with me...these negative emotions were pushed so far back in my mind that I totally forgot about them. One by one they are making themselves known, so that I can finally release them and be done with them. Releasing energy from these pent-up emotions gives you a sense of freedom and satisfaction that another piece of garbage is gone...out of your life forever.

I read where releasing energy from your suppressed emotions can be done by writing the person that offended you...or the person you offended...a letter of forgiveness. Release all the pain, angry and frustration into the letter—then burn the letter. This is suppose to be better than confronting the person and creating more conflict by bringing up something from the past, or maybe even the present. You want to make releasing energy from your negative emotions as painless as possible.

The point I'm trying to make is this...releasing energy from any suppressed emotions will only benefit you in the end...regardless how you go about it. Recognize them...accept them...then start releasing energy.

Feelings Just Are—Neither Good Nor Bad
By Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD

Those who are consciously on a journey of enlightenment and spiritual growth know the frequent pearls of wisdom espoused, by self-help gurus and spiritual leaders, to avoid negative emotions. You no doubt have made great strides in making a better life and rooting out the negative thought patterns that previously made you miserable. As a result, you are no longer caught up in the nightmarish drama that once ruled your life. Bravo!

However, even the most enlightened person can still get triggered when they least expect it. So what do you do with emotions like anger, sadness, and resentment are triggered once again? There is a clear and easy to remember technique—‘catch and release.’

‘Catch And Release’ Is A Fishing Philosophy

That allows fishermen and women to have the thrill of catching these elusive and fascinating creatures and release them back into the water, thus avoiding tipping the ecological balance of nature. Of course, if you like to eat the fish you catch, that is OK too.

After feeling your feelings ‘decide’ to—release it—let it go. This approach prevents the hyper vigilant tendency you may have to suppress your feelings or to rebel against the feeling because ‘someone’ told you the feeling is bad. How long you hold onto the feeling before releasing it is an individual decision, and can vary depending on your beliefs and the situation. If you are stuck behind a stalled car during rush hour, it might be appropriate to feel annoyed for a minute or two. Any longer, you risk having a pity party or bringing on a full head of steam that could boil over into road rage.

Be Gentle With Yourself

The end of a relationship or the death of a family member or loved one brings up more intense feelings of grief and sadness than any other experience. This experience may take several weeks or sometimes months to process. Be gentle with yourself—grief comes in waves and sometimes when you least expect it. Avoid allowing your grief/sadness to re-landscape your world into an emotional swamp, whereby you wall yourself off from others or become unable to live your life.

The most effective way to avoid being in an emotional swamp is to practice ‘catching and releasing’ negative emotions. You can re-train your mind with prayer, meditation, journaling, reading inspirational or self-help books. Also, limiting exposure to negative messages from TV, movies, music and others who keep reminding you of your feelings will help you practice the ‘catch and release’ technique.

In summary when negative emotions arise (and they will), feel them and honor what they represent to you, then ‘decide’ to release them. Your new motto is: “Catch and Release.”

Go From Releasing Energy From Suppressed EmotionsTo Emotional Releasing